Depression and Anxiety in Patients with Chronic Renal Failure : The Effect of Sociodemographic Characteristics

Abstract EN

“Do the sociodemographic characteristics relate to the levels of depression and anxiety in patients with chronic renal failure in Athens?” The study investigated in a group of renal disease patients differences referring to self-reported mental health, depression, and anxiety, after controlling for gender, age, education, and marital status.

Patient-reported assessments included General Health Questionnaire (GHQ-28) of Goldberg, Center for Epidemiological Studies Depression Scale (CES-D), and State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI I & II) of Spielberger.

Female patients reported higher scores in the trait anxiety measure.

Elder patients reported higher scores in the GHQ-28 subscale of social dysfunction and in the CES-D depression scale, while less educated patients presented higher scores in the GHQ-28 subscales of anxiety/insomnia and severe depression.

Divorced/widowed patients presented higher scores in the severe depression subscale.

Findings provide evidence that sociodemographic variables, like being older, less educated, and divorced/widowed, relate to a more compromised mental health.